Full floating cushioned drawer for case goods



Dec. 29, 1953 BlssM 2,664,334

FULL. FLOATING CUSHIONED DRAWER FOR CASE GOODS Filed June 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Carl A. Bissman INVENTOR.

Dec. 29, 1953 c. A. BISSMAN 2,664,334

FULL FLOATING CUSHIONED DRAWER FOR CASE GOODS Filed June 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

W32- wywy y M1 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FULL FLOATING CUSHIONED DRAWER FOR CASE GOODS Carl A. Bissman, Springfield, Mo.; Elizabeth Lois Bissman, executrix of said Carl A. Bissman,

deceased Application June 19, 1950, Serial No. 168,905

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in satisfactory ways and means whereby sliding drawers may be aptly and suitably mounted in so-called case goods, cabinets, desks, chests of drawers, and all analogous articles of furniture.

It is a matter of common knowledge that cabihet makers and furniture men have long been faced with the recurring problem of sliding liz'ed, the drawer sticking and tilt sagging proolem is still to be completely met and conquered. A broad objective in the instant approach to the over-all problem is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon prior art 0011- the head portions of the glides, said glides servstructions and, in so doing, to provide a special structural adaptation in which manufacturers, users and others will find their essential needs fully met, contained and aptly and efiectually available.

Novelty is predicated, on the one hand, on a sliding drawer and drawer compartment construction in which a three-point contact adaptation provides a drawer which may be slid in or out in correct alignment with all coacting parts, thus providing the aforementioned full floating action and minimizingthe likelihood of the drawer sticking, hanging or assuming any off-line positions which would interfere with expeditious functioning of said drawer.

More specifically, and, by preference, a vertical center post is mounted within the confines of the drawer compartment and has a mortised notch therein which serves to adiustably receive a coacting scarf-joint on the adjacent ends of a horizontal cutter guide rail. This arrangement is novel in that the relative adjustment of the scarf joint in the mortise makes it possible to correctly line up the uide rail in relation to the post and also in relation to the coacting guide means on the drawer before the guide rail is glued or otherwise fastened to the post.

' A further object of the invention has to do and whichis suspended between the .forwardzedge portions of the vertical end walls of the cabinet and which serves to adequately support a scarf joint on the outer end of said guide rail, said outer end being formed on its under side with a depending cam-like projection which constitutes a check and serves in a novel manner, to be hereinafter described, to insure travelling of the drawer in a horizontal plane and virtual elimination of drawer sagging when the drawer is open position.

Novelty, in addition, is predicated on the adoption and use of a pair of self-levelling cushioned button-type glides which are removably mounted in a self-compensating manner on the respective end portions of the stringer and which are adapted to permit the lower edges of the vertical end walls of the drawer to track or ride thereon in a stick-proof manner.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the stated glides plus a pair of complemental correspondingly constructed button-type glides which are mounted in sockets provided therefor in the vertical end walls of the cabinet so that the vertical walls of the drawer have wiping contact with ing to expand and contract according to weather requirements and thus eliminating the likelihood of sticking and jamming to a noticeable degree.

A still further objective has to do with the aforementioned centered guide rail wherein the lower edge of the rear wall of the sliding drawer is provided with a guide notch which traverses back and forth on the guide rail, said notch being fitted with a novel'combination unit which is a button-type glide as well as a free sliding saddle, said saddle being preferably of metal and appropriately cushioned whereby the comb nation facilities of the glide button and shoe-like saddle in ure controlled action of the thus precisionfitted gliding drawer.

Ot er objects and advantages will become more readily apparent in the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheets of drawin s wherein like numerals are emplo ed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a so-called case or cabinet, said View being in perspective and portions being broken away and shown in section and the sliding drawers being removed in order to show the skeleton framework construction constituting the drawer compartments within the case.

Figure 2 is a view in central vertical sectio which shows the details of construction with the drawers in place and with one drawer in, the lower drawer out and the intermediate drawer between the in and out positions.

Figure 3 is a view at right angles to Figure 2 looking at the front of the construction with the left-hand portion of the drawer broken away and shown in section to illustrate the details of construction and their associated arrangement.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the combination glide and center guide rail saddle.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing, by dotted lines, the association of the saddle and complemental guide rail.

It will be understood that the disclosure has to do with a piece of furniture in which there are one or more drawers and the cabinet or case part is constructed accordingly. On the other hand, it will simplify matters to a certain extent to visualize a single drawer, a sin le drawer compartment, and the components which go to make up the compartment, the drawer and the attending accessories which serve to provide the full floating cushioned results. Reference is had first to the skeleton case construction in Figure 1 wherein the horizontal top wall is denoted at 8, the vertical end walls at 10 and [2, the rear vertical wall at M and an elevated dust guard [6 which may be described as the bottom. In actual practice, each drawer compartment may have a dust guard (not shown). Each drawer compartment is denoted by the numeral I 8 and each compartment is the same in construction, and the description of one will sufiice for all. To this end, there is a vertical inside post rigidly secured to the back wall and this is provided with horizontal keeper notches or mortises 22 which open through the vertical sides of the post and are adapted to receive the reduced end or scarf joint 24 on the center guide rail 26. connection between the guide rail and post, the guide rail may be fitted into place and after the drawer is mounted and tested, the guide rail will fall into the desired position and it may then be glued or olherwise fastened to the post. The bendable or yinldable wooden cross-piece 2'! at the front may be desi nated as a stringer and the scarf joint extension 28 on the forward end of the rail overlaps and is screwed or otherwise fastened to the intermediate portion of said stringer, as at 30. This arrangement provides a suitable shoulder which rests against the inner edge of the stringer, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be noticed in this connection that the guide rail 26 is rectangular in cross-section and that the lower or underneath edge tapers, as at 32, toward the post 28. The thickened forward end of the rail 26 is formed with a depending enlargement or projection 34 which functions as a sort of wedgelike chock, this being located adjacent to the scarf joint 28.

I call attention now to the button-type, friction-minimizing glides for the outer or forward end portion of the drawer 36. Note, first, the two cushioned glides 38 which are on the interior surfaces of the vertical end walls I ll and I2. These are just above the plane of the stringer 21. coacting therewith are correspondingly constructed but differently positioned glides, also of By using this mortise-and-tenon type the button type, and these are denoted by the numerals 46. They are mounted in the end portions of the stringer in complemental alignment with the glides 38. All of the glides are of a cushioned, self-levelling type as best shown in Figure 4. As here represented, the head is of cup-like form as at 42 and a rubber or equivalent collar 44 is secured in the cup and surrounds the pointed stem 46 which is integral with the head. The stem fits telescopically and removably in the accommodation socket 18 which is provided therefor. The socket is of a greater cross-section than the cross-section of the stem and, hence, the stem may have lateral play and also may reciprocate in and out and the rubber cushion or collar may be compressed to thus render the glides substantially self-compensating. By running the lower edges of the vertical side walls of the drawer on the glides 40 and the outer surfaces of the vertical side walls in sliding contact with the glides 38, it is obvious that no woodto-wood contact between the drawer and cabinet part is allowed at the forward or outer end of the drawer.

The lower central edge portion of the rear wall 56 of the drawer is provided with a clearance and guiding notch for the guide rail 26. The notch is made sufiiciently large to accommodate an insertable and removable combination glide and saddle. This unit is of metal or the like and is best shown in Figure 5, where it is denoted by the numeral 52. It is in the form of an inverted U- shaped member including a bight portion 5 3 provided with a convexed glide or button 55 which is preferably integral therewith, as best shown in Figure 6. The coacting flanges 58 and Git-66 serve to removably mount the saddle in the notch in an obvious manner as shown in Figure 6. The numeral 62 designates appropriate rubber cushioning means which is interposed between the saddle and the coacting surfaces of the notch. Thus, the saddle is cushioned and provided with smooth-running surfaces to properly embrace and coact with the surfaces of the guide rail, and with the addition of the glide button 55, free back and forth motion of the drawer on the guide rail is virtually assured. Even though the rail be slightly twisted or out of shape or if any surfaces are slightly mismated, this saddle and glide combination will virtually offset difficulty.

The upper central edge portion of the wall 5 3 is provided with a cushioned glide 64. This is of the same construction as shown in Figure 4 and the parts are designated accordingly. However, it is a fifth glide in the assemblage, there being two pairs at the front and one at the rear in conjunction with the saddle. The tapered surface 32 permits the glide 64 to ride along free of contact with said surface 32 until it approaches the midportion of the rail, that is, the under side of the rail as shown in the intermediate drawer position in Figure 2. Here, it begins to come into wiping or sliding contact with the beveled or tapered surface 32. It finally comes in contact with the chock 34 which then becomes a stop shoulder and checks the outward movement of the drawer. There is sufficient play in the yieldability of the stringer 21 and the cushioning means on the glide 64 to actually permit the drawer to be forcibly pulled bodily out of the compartment in an obvious manner.

With respect to the features which characterize the over-all construction, it will be noticed that the drawer is actually suspended on a threepoint contact principle, the two glides 4U-4D at the front and the rear self-compensatingsaddle means 52 on the centered guide rail at the rear. This makes it possible for the drawer to slide freely and without binding even though the drawer might in itself be built in a slight twist or wind.

As previously stated, the-lower surface of the center or guide rail'in each compartment is tapered or beveled and of course there is considerable clearance between the inner end of the bevel 32 and the glide 64 until the outward motion of the drawer takes it to its intermediate position as shown in Figure 2. In fact, the drawer has to be extended approximately half way before the glide 64 comes into play. When the drawer is fully extended, as shown at the bottom in Figure 2, the glide 64 continues to compress slightly, giving what has been called a slight snubbing action. This still holds the drawer in a horizontal plane until the drawer is gently stopped by the glide B l coming into contact with the shoulder provided by the abutment or chock 34. A slight additional pull makes it possible for the glide 64 to clear the chock, allowing the drawer to be freely removed from the case. turning the drawer, a slight additional push makes the glide 64 slide over the chock and functions to automatically reestablish the safety stop feature. This safety stop drawer is substantially fool-proof. There is nothing to set, release, adjust or touch for perfect operation. If the case should settle on one corner because of uneven floors, the aforementioned three-point contact and suspension feature virtually overcomes this and eliminates drawer binding.

It will be clear that in the structural assemblage herein disclosed, the drawers do not stick or jam when closed regardless of dampness, heat or cold. The rubber-cushioned glides compress as required and afford the user feather-like opening and closing control. In fact, regardless of whether one exerts pressure on top or sidcs of the drawers they will operate without binding or pinching. One can operate the drawers by finger-tip control at either bottom corners. Wood to wood contact is eliminated and hence the drawers slide on rubber-cushioned metal glides. It follows that there will be no-bumping, scraping, rattling nor the usual clatter to create noise. Because of the rubber-cushioned glides and saddle and tapered guide rails the entire drawer floats in and out. The projection on the guide rail retards the drawer at the open position and yet the drawer may be removed from the case when wanted with slight additional pressure. Then, too, the tapered drawer guide rail holds the drawers horizontally parallel to each other and consequently they do not sag even when several of them are pulled out to open position and even when they are loaded with comparatively heavy items, as is often the case.

Novelty is predicated on all features singly and collectively and the claims are presented accordingly.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein In re- '6 described and within the 'scope of'the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is':

l. A cabinet of the class described comprising oomplemental top, back and end walls defining a drawer compartment, 9. vertical center post fixed to the interior of the back wall, said post having a horizontal mortise with its ends opening through the vertical sides of said post, a hori zontal slightly yieldable stringer secured to and suspended between the outer edge portions of said end walls, a horizontal guide rail having a scarf-joint at one end fitted adjustably into said mortise so that it may be shifted in a horizontal plane and properly set before it is permanently afiixed to said post and a scarf-joint at its opposite end overlapping and fastened to the intermediate portion of said stringer, said guide rail being rectangular in cross-section. and the underside thereof being tapered toward said post and having a depending boss in close roximity to said stringer, said boss being adapted to function as a drawer abutting and snubbing chock.

2. A cabinet of the class described comprising complemental top, back and end walls defining a drawer compartment,- 2-. vertical center post fixed to the interior of the back wall of said coinpartment, said post having a horizontal open ended mortise, a horizontally disposed flexibly resilient stringer secured to and suspended between the outer edge portions of said end walls, a horizontal guide rail having a scarf joint at one end fitted into said mortise and a scarf joint at its opposite end overlapping and fastened to an intermediate portion of said stringer, the outer end portion of said guide rail being provided on its underneath side with a wedge-like abutment providing a drawer check, a second horizontal guide rail supported in spaced parallelism direct ly beneath said first named guide rail, a sliding drawer arranged for operation between the respective guide rails, a button-type compressibly cushioned and yieldable glide mounted on the upper edge portion of the rear wall of said drawer and adapted to ride against the underside of said first named guide rail and, under certain circumstances into frictional snubbing but releasable engagement with said chock to prevent the drawer from being accidentally pulled from its compartment during normal operation thereof, said stringer and yieldable glide making it possible to cause the glide to clear said chock when said drawer is manually yanked out by applying the required forcible pull to said drawer.

3. A cabinet of the class described comprising complemental top, back, and end walls defining a drawer compartment, a vertical center post fixed to the interior of the back wall of said compartment, a horizontally disposed flexibly resilient stringer secured to and suspended between the outer edge portions of said end walls and disposed in spaced parallelism in respect to said. back wall, a horizontal guide rail at right angles to said stringer and having one end adjustably connected with said post and its opposite end secured to the intermediate portion of said stringer, said guide rail being rectangular in cross-section and the underside thereof bein tapered toward said post and having a depending boss in close proximity to said stringer, said boss having its bottom surface depending below the bottom surface of the stringer and being adapted to function as a drawer abutting and snubbing chock, a second horizontal guide rail supported in spaced parallelism directly beneath said firstnamed guide rail, a sliding drawer lo cated in said drawer compartment and situated for operation between the respective guide rails, a button-type compressibly cushioned and yieldable glide mounted on the upper edge portion of the rear wall of said drawer and, when the drawer is closed, being spaced beneath the tapered underside of said first-named guide rail and being adapted to ride into contact with said tapered underside as the drawer is slid to open position and, under certain circumstances, into frictional snubbing but releasable contact with said chock to prevent the drawer from being accidentally pulled from its compartment during normal operation of the drawer, said stringer and yieldable glide making it possible to cause the glide to clear said chock when said drawer is manually yanked out of its compartment by applying the required forcible pull to said drawer.

4. Case goods of the class described comprising a case construction having at least one drawer compartment, said compartment embodying a horizontal top wall, a rear wall, and vertical end walls connected together and defining the stated compartment, a horizontal flexible stringer in spaced parallelism in respect to said rear wall and supported between the forward portions of said vertical end Walls, a guide rail at right angles to said stringer, centered in the compartment between said vertical end walls, supported at one end by the intermediate portion of said stringer, and having its opposite end adjustably supported by way of said rear wall, said stringer being provided at its opposite end portions and in its upper side with vertical bores providing sockets, a pair of drawer glides, each glide embodying a convex head, a rigid stem attached to and projecting laterally from the center of said head and a rubber collar encircling the stem and abutting said head, the stem portions of the respective glides fitting telescopically into their respective sockets, the sockets being of cross-sectional dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the stems, each rubber collar being in direct contact with the adjacent surface of said stringer, a drawer slidably mounted in said compartment, the lower edges of the side walls of said drawer having sliding contact with the respective heads on said glides, and a cushioned U-shaped saddle secured to the lower edge of the inner rear wall of said drawer and embracing and slidably mounted on said guide rail, said saddle including a bight portion, said bight portion being provided at its center with an integral glide button having free sliding contact with the coacting top surface of said guide rail, the underside of said guide rail being tapered toward said rear wall and having a depending boss in close proximity to said stringer, said boss being adapted to serve as a drawer abutting and snubbing chock.

CARL A, BISSMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 354,744 Sabot Dec. 21, 1886 1,184,343 Guyer May 23, 1916 1,348,232 Maise Aug. 3, 1920 1,553,306 Busby Sept. 15, 1925 1,726,002 Smith Aug. 27, 1929 1,753,976 White Apr. 8, 1930 1,940,047 Cutler Dec. 19, 1933 1,969,749 Harsh Aug. 14, 1934 2,057,709 Cheston Oct. 20, 1936 2,202,209 Kennedy May 28, 1940 2,254,132 Appleyard Aug. 26, 1941 2,321,520 Ruckman June 8, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 44,969 Netherlands Jan. 16, 1939 

